Back in the days (and decades) when Democrats controlled the Tennessee legislature, they passed laws that helped their candidates and voters and hurt Republicans (not to mention women and minorities).

In 1907, for example, the Democrat-controlled Tennessee legislature created county election boards. The governor's party controlled appointments to each board, so Democrats (white men) controlled each board for generations.

Memphis, of course, did things a little differently. In 1909, Democrat E.H. Crump was elected mayor of Memphis, and the Shelby County Election Board became the "Boss Crump Board" for generations. The board favored Crump's candidates, regardless of party.

In 1977, two years after Republican Gov. Winfield Dunn left office, the Democrat-controlled state legislature changed the law. From then on, the party that controlled the legislature controlled a majority of appointments to local election commission.

That law favored Democrats for a generation. Now it favors Republicans.

Voting laws should favor neither party, and neither party should control voting laws.

Democrats should not be able to draw gerrymandered voting district boundaries, set voting hours and locations, purge voter rolls, or pass laws that enable or encourage their candidates and voters, or restrict Republicans.

Neither should Republicans.

The same is true for whichever party controls Congress, the White House or the U.S. Supreme Court.

The right to vote is fundamental to our democratic republic. So fundamental it appears five times -- more than any other right -- in the U.S. Constitution.

It is enshrined in the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th Amendments. "The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote," cannot be blocked or abridged by race, sex or poll taxes.

It should not be blocked or restricted by partisan politics, no matter how pragmatic or patriotic or entitled those political partisans claim to be.

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Morning column that offers both commentary and news on the top stories in Memphis.

Both parties in all regions have tried to exclude naturalized citizens, less educated citizens and others with tests and taxes and other forms of intimidation.

Legislators in nearly all states have used — and continue to do so — registration obstacles, voter ID laws, purged voter rolls, and early voting restrictions, and limited or relocated polling places to restrict or inhibit voting.

Democrats have done it. Republicans are doing it now. Two wrongs don't make it right.

If either party in power can't be trusted with our right to vote, neither party should control that right.